the setup…
Arden Ward is a highly successful crisis management expert working for a top tier company. That is until her boss and mentor finds her expendable when he has to choose between a client’s misguided accusation and supporting her. As if that’s not bad enough, he forces her to take on a client or face being blackballed as she goes out the door. It’s the highest profile case currently on the front pages and the wife of the recently acquitted man who was accused of causing a traffic fatality while inebriated wants her help to rehabilitate their reputation. Arden takes the case but things go sideways almost from the start.

the heart of the story…
Arden was hired by Cordelia Bannister but it’s husband Ned who’s at the center of the controversy. Was he really guilty or the victim of an over zealous prosecutor? Did he really not know the victim or was there a prior relationship as someone is anonymously insinuating? It doesn’t take long for Arden to not know who she can trust and your neck will get sore from the constant whiplash of the back and forth about it. I’ve never experienced so many unreliable narrators in one story and I kept screaming at Arden to just run!

the narration…
I enjoyed Shalan’s storytelling approach because she wasn’t giving a thing away in her performance. I kept listening for a hint as to who might be lying but she gave each character a straight face. It was an exceptional delivery.

the bottom line…
It took most of the story for me to develop a strong supposition and I came really close. It was a tangled, delicious web of lies, half truths and subterfuge like I’ve rarely experienced. Arden has a keen mind and even when she doubted herself, kept her wits about her. This was a gnarly puzzle that gave me brain cramps on occasion but was highly entertaining. What a great ride and even better on audio.

I am surely in the minority for this one, I DNF the physical book and then tried the audio. I was highly invested in the beginning, but it was just so slow for me. I felt like nothing truly happened until 80% when things start unfolding. It just left me feeling unsatisfied, I read a lot of thrillers/mysteries so it was a little predictable for me. I really wanted to love it.

🎧 The narration by Gail Shalan was okay. I was happy that the character names were said before each chapter or I would've been highly confused. She had the same voice and tone for each character. I think it would've benefited from a bit more emotion.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Tor Publishing and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Hank Phillippi Ryan, with the audio perfectly narrated by Gail Shalan - 4.5 stars!

Arden Ward is being forced out of a job she loves after an untrue accusation. Her boss offers her one last job, intimating that future recommendations rely on her doing it. Cordelia Bannister wants Arden to salvage her husband's reputation. Ned Bannister was acquitted of killing a young man on a skateboard in a parking garage after drinking at a New Year's Eve party. While he is now free, public opinion of him and his family hasn't changed. But as Arden gets involved with the family to help them, she discovers that she isn't sure who she can trust.

Hank Phillippi Ryan has once again written a story that you will be totally engrossed in - along with Arden, you won't know who you can trust. It was definitely a cat-and-mouse game that kept me searching for clues and hints as to the real story. Each time I was convinced I knew what was happening, there was another twist that made me question my thinking. These characters felt real - full of strong women characters that you will either love or hate. Perfectly done!

Arden Ward is a crisis manager in Boston who is unfairly terminated after wrongfully accused of having an affair with a client. But her boss offers her an option to save her career.

Cordelia is reeling from the recent acquittal of her husband’s fatal drunk driving accident, but her family’s reputation has been irrevocably tarnished. She begs Arden for help to repair their good name. But as Arden finds out what really happened that night and then another crash occurs. Is her client as innocent as he claims?

This was another winner from Hank. I truly enjoy the twists and turns each of her books has. Arden was a complex character that was I was really cheering on. She was treated horribly by her own boss on a client she herself brought in!

Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours @macmillan.audio and @forgereads for my gifted copy.

I cannot believe I had never read a Hank Phillippi Ryan book until now! But apparently this book is the norm for her: Thrilling plot, amazing character development and fast paced jaw dropping twist.
This book really worked for me because I liked the voice she gave the main character, Arden Ward. She was a very real person to me, her inner thoughts and process were exactly how I envision a smart women like Arden would.
The storyline alone was captivating enough to keep the pages turning (Ned a rich man gets off killing a guy skateboarding in his company's parking garage while drunk because of his smart lawyer, Arden is brought in to "clean" up his image, but, the happy couple is not what you would think, and is Ned really innocent?
While reading this book my heart was pounding, it was so fast paced! I couldn't believe how quickly I worked through One Wrong Word, What seems like a pretty simple plot Ryan created so many red herrings, dead ends and the ultimate cat and mouse chase around the Boston Area. I love books that make you think when you are not reading it. I admit when I was driving in my apartment's parking garage I made sure to take the turns extra slow in case I ended up like our dear friend Ned.
All that to say, I loved this twisty book and am even more excited to have found a new author.
My only point of criticism would be the characters interrupted one another too often, or did to complete sentences, which was a tad bit annoying. Also there was a little to much lying back and forth towards the end, but never the less, stay extra focused and you will love the ending.
Bonus point I LOVED Pip, the son! What a cool kid!

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to review and read this advanced copy of One Wrong Word by Hank Phillippi Ryan. I highly recommend purchasing this book when it publishes Feb 6 2024.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Hank Phillippi Ryan for an advance copy of One Wrong Word in exchnage for an honest review. We meet our main character, Arden, who is a crisis management solver right away as she gets tasked with an interesting last assignment with her current firm. During this assignment, we meet Cordelia Bannister who asks Arden to help salvage her husband, Neds, reputation. We follow Arden, as she investigates what the heck is going on in this "web" of a situation. This book proves that gossip, lies, and your reputation are all such big factors in every situation & just when you think everything is going your way that one wrong turn or one wrong word can change everything. I felt like this one had more of a slower burn throughout the first 60% of the book, but the last 40% or so really drew me in and I just had to find out what happened. The narrator did a great job of keeping my attention while telling the story in such a captivating one. Pick this one up for your library on Feb 6th! 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for GR.

One Wrong Word
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This Thriller was so good from the very start to the end. Lots of twist & turns. You will cheer on Arden for never giving up to find the truth! It grab me from the very beginning to the end. I couldn't put it down. It will take you on a wild ride of intrigue to to know the outcome. One Wrong Word can ruin your life. Words can be damaging. Words carry power!! Be careful!!
Thank you NetGallery!

I’ve read several other books by Hank Philippi Ryan and have enjoyed her writing. It takes a special mind to create something as twisty and compelling to where the reader is constantly challenged!

I listened to the audiobook version of this very thrilling and dynamic suspense novel. The title, One Wrong Word, is an understatement, for there were so many wrong words included in the many lies, secrets and deceptions. This book was filled with so many surprises, coincidences, twists and turns that sometimes I had to toggle back in 30-second increments to re-listen to conversations. I didn’t know if what I heard was really what I believed I heard and when I thought I understood, I soon learned that I was actually wrong! The book was brilliant but actually frustrated me. I believe it would actually make a great television series where you could digest things between episodes. 3.5 rounded up.

My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I had high hopes for this book but ultimately it fell flat. I think the pacing was all off. The first half of the book not a lot happens. There aren’t any twists or turns. Then in the last 1/4 of the book it picks up and everything comes together, but not in a way that makes a lot of sense, It felt rushed. And honestly I stopped caring about the outcome because of how long it took to get there.

I have loved every book by Hank Phillippi Ryan that I have read and that did not change with this book. This author should be considered royalty in the psychological thriller genre because every book is a hit. This book is so addictive and twisty and will have you on the edge of your seat.

This is Hank Phillippi Ryan’s latest domestic thriller that I had the pleasure of listening to on audio by the publisher and NetGalley. This was just ok for me, I thought it was very slow moving in the first half of the story but then it picked up and I started enjoying the 2nd half better. There are several twists I did not see coming so that made me keep reading it. 3-stars overall.

I had never read one of Hank Phillippi Ryan's books, but since I'd heard good things, I figured I was in for a decent ride. And that was true. The book is fast-paced and well-written, and I enjoyed the POV characters quite a bit. Not a whole lot happened in this book, which is fine, but it seemed pretty obvious who the culprit was early on. Maybe it was more obvious in the audiobook? I'm not sure. Having said that, the narrator was fabulous.

I'll read more by this author, which is, I suppose, a compliment!

Arden, a crisis management expert, is falsely accused of having an affair with a powerful client which leads to her last case with her current employer. Arden loves helping people and knows the ins and outs of how important public perception is. Arden’s last case comes when Cordelia Bannister asks specifically for Ardens help. Cordelia’s husband, Ned, has recently been acquitted in a drunk driving accident which claimed a life. The court of public opinion has sided against them, even after he was acquitted. Arden sets out to find out what really happened that night. Who can you trust? Who’s telling the truth? This book took place in just a few days. It’s not particularly in action packed story but it was such a mystery with an ending I didn’t see coming. Nothing is what it seems.

I received the audio book version. The narrator was okay. Her voice was a little too monotone for a book of this length but overall is was an enjoyable listen!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio arc of One Wrong Word.

PR crisis manager Arden has just lost her high-profile job due to false allegations and is given one last assignment on her way out. Cordelia Bannister is trying to get her life back to normal after the acquittal of her husband Ned in the killing of a man in a parking garage on New Year's. Just because the jury decided Ned was not guilty does not mean the court of public opinion agrees. Enter Arden to help the Bannisters wage the war to improve Ned's reputation and reinstate them to their rightful place in the community. As Arden attempts this one final job, she begins to unravel a bigger mystery and realizes there is much more to the story than meets the eye.

One Wrong Word was a solid domestic thriller from Hank Phillippi Ryan that brings many twists and turns, many of which I did not see coming. It's always refreshing to ready a mystery thriller and not know exactly which plot lines are coming. Ryan's writing was enjoyable and made for a quick read; however, the pacing wasn't even throughout. The first half of the story was a bit slow and wordy at times with the character dialogues, and the last half was so fast I found myself a bit confused at times. Overall, I recommend if you typically enjoy this genre or want a story that brings some unique twists.

This book truly captivated me with its unpredictable narrative, consistently maintaining my intrigue. The legal elements not only added depth but also sparked my interest, creating a unique blend of intellectual stimulation and suspenseful storytelling.

The emotional depth portrayed in the narrative, especially in moments of devotion, resonated with my own feelings. However, a bittersweet sadness lingered as I grappled with the intricacies of the unfolding plot, adding a poignant layer to the overall experience.

Amidst the clarity of emotions, the writing style emerged as a beacon, skillfully weaving words that drew me deeper into the story. It left me reflecting on the characters and their journey, turning this book into more than just a read but a memorable exploration of emotions and thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of the audio of One Wrong Word by Hank Phillippi Ryan. This is a wild and thought-provoking ride that leads us on a quest to find the truth behind a murder amongst an intricate web of deception.

Arden is a crisis manager who is about to lose her job thanks to an untrue accusation made by a client's jealous wife. She is given one last job, which is to protect Ned Bannister from the press and other dangers. Ned is accused of hitting and killing a skateboarder in a parking garage while under the influence after a New Year's party. Although the jury declares him innocent, the court of public opinion continues to judge him.

Arden doesn't know if she can trust him or his wife Cordelia, who seems to be afraid of not only the outcome of the trial but of her husband's secrets as well. Arden is unwillingly immersed in a dangerous journey to uncover the skateboarder's identity and the mastermind behind one murder- and a second attempted murder when Ned's attorney becomes the next victim.

This thrilling adventure was made even more gripping and unputdownable by the excellent narration.

Hank Phillippi Ryan never lets me down. One Wrong Word is a solid thriller that kept me guessing throughout the pages. I liked the character Arden, who is a crisis management expert. Although she was fired from her job in the first chapter, she handled it with a level-headed disposition and a suspicious mind. Arden remained in that mindset for the rest of the story even though life around her was falling apart around her. Great writing and narration in this page-turner.

Rating: 2/5 Stars
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Swipe for synopsis.
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Unfortunately, this one did not work for me. First, I wasn’t a huge fan of any of the characters. Arden seemed extra whiny – constantly complaining about her loss of a job, yet continues to work for the man who fired her? Cordelia and Ned were just the most manipulative people that I instantly hated them and honestly couldn’t have cared less if the community hated them. Ardens boss was also manipulative, and he just sucked big time. I think that the kid Pip was the best character in the book. Second, this book was way too long. There was so much repetition that this really felt like a chore to pick up. Third, that ending was just super underwhelming to me. Sure, the twists were pretty well placed, and I definitely did not see all of them coming, but once I finished, I just sat there like “this is it?”
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The writing was great, don’t get me wrong, I just got super bored with the whole “cat and mouse” game that felt like it went on for an eternity. I am entirely in the minority here with this review as I have seen some really awesome reviews on this one. I am starting to think that this author just may not be for me.
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I listened to this one via audiobook and Gail Shalan was amazing! Her narration was so entertaining, I can honestly say it is the reason I ended up finishing this book.
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One Wrong Word comes out on 2/6. Be sure to check it out!! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Hank Phillippi Ryan and Macmillan Audio in exchange for my honest review.

This domestic thriller was a quick and fun read. I listened to the audiobook and I thought the narrator did a good job bringing the story to life. I liked the characters and I thought the story was good with some fun twists (even if I did see the twists coming). Arden is a public relations person who specializes in helping re-invent her clients. She is caught off guard when her boss tells her he has to let her go because a rich client’s wife has accused her of sleeping with his husband, but he gives her one last job and no choice but to take it. Cordelia has hired Arden to help rehabilitate her husband Ned after he is acquitted after accidentally killing a man in a parking garage but the jury verdict doesn’t change the public outrage. The more Arden investigates the more questions she is left with and she can’t help but wonder what is true and what is rooted in lies.

One Wrong Word by Hank Philippi Ryan
Mystery, psychological thriller.
One Wrong Word can ruin your life. Crisis management expert Arden Ward knows that fact a little too well right now. She’s been fired from her job after being unfairly accused of having an affair with a powerful client. Arden agrees to take on an investigation case of Cordelia and Ned Bannister. He’s on trial for murder. Cordelia wants her family protected and the case investigated. Th more Arden searches and analyzes evidence, the more tangles. She has to question if she is also protecting a killer.

Twists and turns, sabotage or lies? The more she untangles, the deeper the threat.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook version of this story, narrated by Gail Shalan. The performance is well done with the mounting tension clearly being heard and felt. There are distinct voices for the three main voices as well as several secondary characters and all are clear and easily followed. The only one not quite believable was the young boy, but it’s a short part. The timing was average to most audiobooks and I ended up listening at 1.5 which is my preferred. This story has only one POV, which makes the audiobook easier to follow. The twists, turns and reveals of the mystery had me backing up a bit twice while listening to clarify a point.

Drama and suspense and twists kept me reading to figure out what really happened.
Overall a wonderful suspenseful read.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.